The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-11-03
THURSDAY, NOV. 3, 1887.
I GOLDEN LFAE TOBACCO
" hat it has Done for Ncrth Car
DINA.

Az ADDRESS DELIVERED BY COL. WM. H.
$. BURGWYN, OF HENDERSON, n. c.,
AT THE MT. HOLLY ENCAMPMENT. T
The historian, when in duty bound,
in the course of his narrative, to single
out from the great masses of mankind,
those few who are to be recognized as
benefactors of the human race, has in
no instance, that | recall, chosen as
the object Of his laudaiion the plain,
unpretentions farmer. lis true! all
men, statesmen, orators, poets, authors,
editors, and especially the politician,
never tire Of speaking honeyed words
on the praises of a country life, of the
nobility of the calling, the independ-
ence of the farmer, the importance of
the agricultural interests to the COM
monwealth etc, ETC., but the idea of
elevating an humble farmer to the
dignity of public benefactor seems
not to have been thought of. Having
been invited to deliver an address
during this encampment, l will en-
deavor, in the limited time these ex-
ercises permit, to bring into notice a
class of citizens, pursuing the even
tenor of their way, but men, honor
able, noble men, worthy to be esteemed.
benefactors of their State and to do
so | ask your attention while | briefly
speak on the subject allotted me,
GOLDEN LEAF TOBACCO, ITS ORIGIN AND
HISTORY. AND WHAT IT HAS DONE
FOR NORTH CAROLINA.
The development of the fine tobacco
interest in North Carolina exhibits one
of the most remarkable transitions in
the annals Of agriculture. 1t reads
like 4 romance. Even the matter OF
fact statistician Of the Census Bureau
finds his enthusiasm aroused as he in
vestigates the subject, and he INDUCES
in unwonted pancgyric as he tells the
story. Its growth was first begun in
this State by two brothers, Capt. Abb
shat and Thos. Slade, Of Caswell coun-
ty, upon a ridge between two small
tributaries of the Dan River. The
soil was thin and sandy, and, in com
parison with the river bottoms, was OF
little value. About 1852 or 1883 the
SHADES grew by chance, as they sup
posed, small crop of yellow tobacco.
AS it grew year after year, its peculiari-
ties were attributed to special method
of culture and curing. They com,nu-
nicated this method to all inquirers,
and it was soon found that soil was
the chief element, although care in the
modes of cultivation and curing were
also found to be necessary to the pro
duCtion of the best qualities. From
the plantation of the SHADES its growth
extended over Caswell county, and
along the same side into Pittsylvania
county, Va. This covered almost the
entire area of yellow tobacco culture
before the civil war, when the produc-
ton of tobacco was almost entirely
suspendedL/1'he war increased the
manufacture of tobacco in the North,
where no tobacco suitable for plug or
wrappers was grown, and at its close,
attention was called to the fitness OF
the North Carolina yellow leaf for this
purpose. The price rose with demand
and the production extended to other
counties, especially to Person, Gran
vile and Rockingham. Granville
and Vance outstrip all competitors,
although many other counties have
entered the list, from Buncombe and
Madison, in the West, where it is
grown on the slopes Of the Alleghanies
5000 feet above sea level to the
coast belt above the sea, a vertical
range of 800 feet and a climatic
range equivalent to about 81 degrees
of Latitude. Says that accomplished
writer and successful farmer, Maj. R.
l.. Ragland, of Hyco, Va: "The
capabilities Of Eastern North Carolina,
to produce the whitest and finest and
highest priced tobacco have not yet
been developed, but is coming. There
are still millions of acres in Virginia
and North Carolina, capable of pro-
ducing fancy yellow tobaccos which
have never yet been utilized therefor,
and which remain as grand reserve
force to be marshalled to our aid, as
our necessities require" "
SUITABLE SOILS.
Tobacco is plant which delights